PARISH NEWS - June 18th, 2026

SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK

SUNDAY, June 21 – 10:00am – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

National Indigenous Day of Prayer

If you are unable to attend worship in person, the service is live streamed. For links to the service and the order of service please visit St. James at: stjamesdundas.ca or the St. James Facebook page.

The church office has new hours

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-2pm.

St. James Mission Statement

“To know Jesus and share Love through prayer, story, and service”

Volunteer Office

Our Volunteer Office is currently undergoing a much-needed clean-up to help us better organize and serve everyone efficiently. As we work to clear up clutter and create a more functional space, we kindly ask for your cooperation. If you drop off any items in either the church office or the volunteer office, please make sure to have the items clearly labeled with all necessary details. This will help ensure everything can be properly identified and directed to the right place.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we refresh and reorganize our space!

We still have some African artifacts in the volunteer office.

Please pick them up as soon as possible.

WEDNESDAY – COMPLINE – 9:15 p.m. Compline is a short service of night prayer. The heart of Compline is the recitation of several psalms. There is a short reading from scripture, intercession, and time for reflection. It is a beautiful way to close out an active day. Compline is offered by St. James’ through Facebook to bring the community together. If you cannot join live, the service is available afterwards on St. James’ Facebook channel.

Messy Church Fun!

Please speak with Leslie if you can help with set up, take down, kitchen prep, wash up, or oversight a children’s ministry station.  The only requirement is a willingness to have fun and fellowship in the process!  The commitment is only once per month.

St James’ Wardens: organizational chart

We’re pleased to introduce our new wardens and the areas of parish life they each support. This chart outlines their specific responsibilities, helping to keep our community connected and our day-to-day operations running smoothly. Our sincere thanks to the wardens for their dedication, generosity, and faithful service to St. James

St. James' 50th Holiday House Tour

Put Saturday, December 6th, in your calendar for our 50th Holiday House Tour.  It will be a special anniversary event!  If you can recommend a home to include in this year's tour, please contact Jan Southall at jsouthall@cogeco.ca, and she will follow up with you for further details.

When you make jams, jellies, and preserves this year, please set some jars aside to sell at the Holiday House Tour. They are always the best sellers!

Thank you.

Do you enjoy interior painting?

The Music Director's office, located on the lower level, is in need of a new paint job.  The walls are prepared and ready for painting.  If you have the time and interest in helping to get the office ready for our new music director, please contact Terese Herron at tershaw1@gmail.com or

905-979-6820.  We hope to get the painting done in June before the weather gets too hot and humid for painting.

Monday Afternoon Games

First and third Monday of the month from 1:30-4pm, in the Parlour. Everyone is invited to participate, ladies or gentlemen.  Any questions, please speak with Jill.

Tuesday Evening Prayer

You can join us in person in the Parlour at 6:15pm or via Zoom. If you choose to attend the prayer session virtually, contact Dana Murray before 4 pm on Tuesday, for the Zoom coordinates danamurray999@gmail.com

Women’s Weekend

We are pleased to announce our Women’s Weekend at Five Oaks, taking place September 25–26, 2026 at the Five Oaks Conference Centre, located at 1 Bethel Road, Paris, ON N3L 3E3. Our committee is planning an exciting and meaningful weekend — more details will follow. The costs include accommodation and meals. Also any dietary restrictions please inform us.

Costs:

·         Double Occupancy: $285

·         Private Room: $350

·         Saturday Only: $125

Payment Options: e‑transfer, cheque, or cash. Please send e‑transfers to saintjamesgiving@gmail.com and clearly note: Women’s Weekend – your name – September 25–26, 2026.

To register please contact Marline S. or Carleon H. through the parish office at 905 627 1424 or stjamesdundas@outlook.com  

Registration Deadline: June 30, 2026

Call out for anyone with a key to the church building. If you are not the head of a committee, please return your key as soon as possible.

Everyone seems to enjoy coffee/tea and fellowship after Sunday Services. There is a need for volunteers to help with four related tasks, set-up tables and chairs, set-up coffee and tea, clean up dishes and put away tables and chairs.

Sign up to help with one or more of the tasks.

         There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex or contact Jill Regoeczi or Terese Herron.

For those who are interested in directly supporting the work of Camp Canterbury Hills, please use the following email: CHSFinance@niagaraanglican.ca 

Indigenous Heritage Month

This was posted by Michaelee Lazore on August 25, 2025.  It is from the Sequoia, Proudly Indigenous website.

“The Three Sisters in Haudenosaunee culture technically refers to Corn, Beans and Squash but their meaning is so much deeper.

Haudenosaunee people are Matriarchal and Indigenous cultures refer to the land as 'She' with Mother Earth the name of Turtle Island lands. When it came to feeding the people, Females were responsible for Agriculture while men were responsible to hunt. Corn, Beans and Squash were the main Agricultural plants of the Haudenosaunee and took on a female nickname, The Three Sisters. This name was not just about labeling three foods. It was symbolic. Women are tied directly to the lands and what we grow. 

In our Creation Story, Skywoman descended, landed on a giant turtle's back, created Turtle Island and when she died, her body became Mother Earth and she continues to give us foods, water and medicines. 

The moon is known as Grandmother Moon and her cycles are tied to women. When the Harvest Moon appears, that is Grandmother's wisdom telling us to harvest our plant foods for the winter. 

If the Earth is our mother, the food plants are her children. Three Sisters represents that.

Women are considered caretakers of the land and responsible for its well being. When children are born, they take the clan of their mother. When men marry, they would move into the woman's longhouse. Women would teach their daughters about their roles, including taking care of the gardens. 

Even in Haudenosaunee traditional dances, the women use steps closer to the ground, usually shuffling their feet along the ground to embrace their relationship with the Earth. Men usually stomp and their feet generally leave the ground. 

Another key in Haudenosaunee culture is the number 3. When dancing, people are encouraged to dance around the circle 3 times. There is an old saying that births and deaths often happen in threes. So, it would not be uncommon for three sisters to be working a garden of Corn, Beans and Squash and for stories to pass down. We do not know how long the name Three Sisters has been around but it has been here for Generations.”

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

June 21                     National Indigenous Day of Prayer

June 27                     St. James Summer Social  2-4pm

June 28                     Afterthoughts in the Parlour immediately following the service